Can-punching guide and cover



' W. P. MONTGOMERY.

CAN P UNCHING GUIDE AND COVER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 4, 1919.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

WILLARD P. MONTGOMERY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAN-PUNCHING GUIDE AND COVER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD P. MONT- GOMERY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Can-Punching Guides and Covers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a can punching guide and cover, and has special reference to such a device which is formed from thin sheet metal for extending over the top of a can and held to the can by the sides of the same.

The object of my invention is to form a cheap, simple and efficient can punching guide and cover, which can be formed from a single piece of thin sheet metal, will be enabled to fit over and against the top of the can, and will be enabled to be held onto said can by the sides of the same fitting against the sides of the can. 7

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a device which will enable the guiding of a punch through the same for forming air or pouring holes in the top of the can and also enable the movement of the same around the cover for the purpose of covering said holes, when desired.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to construct and use my improved device, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top view of a can having my improved device applied thereto and showing the same in position for the punching operation; 7

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the can and device on the line II-II Fig. 1 and showing the holes punched in the top of the can, and

Fig. 3 is a top view of the can showing the device in position on the can for covering such holes. 1

Like symbols of reference herein indicate like parts in each of the figures of the drawits illustrated in the drawings A represents an ordinary sheet metal can having the usual sidewall a, bottom (not shown) and top 5 connected to said wall, and 1 rep- 4 resents my improved device for forming a punching guide and cover for such can,

which is formed from a single piece of thin, flat spring metal, such as sheet steel, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 19.20,

Application filed November 4, 1919. Serial No. 335,591.

consists of four clamping arms 2 and 3 extending radially from a central portion 4:. The arms 2 are in line with each other and are adapted to form the punching guide members, while the arms 3 are also in line with each other .and are adapted to form the cover members. The inner ends of the arms 2 and 3 adjacent the central portion t are bent upward to form the shoulders 5, and the outer ends of such arms are bent downward and then outward to form the spring lips or lugs 6,. Holes or openings 7 are formed ineach of the arms 2 and adjacent the outer ends of the same.

, hen it is desired to apply my improved device 1 to the can A, it is placed over the top I) of the can and forced down over such top, so that the lugs 6 on the arms 2 and 3 will thus spring over such top and clamp against the side wall a of the can, which will allow the central portion 4 on the device to fit within the usual recessed portion 0 in said can top and the shoulders 5 on the arms to bear against the edge 0' by said recessed portion and such arms to come against said top. As soon as the device 1 is thus in place and it is desired toopen the can A, an ice pick, punch or other suitable pointed instrument or tool can be forced down through the holes 7 in the arms 2 and through the can top a, and thereby form the usual oouring and air holes (Z in such can top. hen it is desired to use the contents of the can A, the device 1 can then be turned around on the can A, so that the arms 2 are moved from over the holes d in the can top a, which will allow the contents of such can to be poured from one of said holes and the other hole will act to admit air into such can to assist the pouring, although such device may remain in its punching position and such pouring and air admission accomplished through the holes d and 7 respectivel if desired.

W en it is desired to close the holes 03 in the can top a, the device 1 is turned around on the can A, so that the arms 3 are brought over such holes and thereby close or cover the same. 1 1

1 It will thus be seen that in the use of my improved device, the can top can be easily and quickly punched without the liability of the punch or other instrument used for forming the pouring and air holes slipping on the can top and causing injury to a persons handsfwhile it can be readily and conveniently positioned on the can for closing or covering such holes when desired and thus preventthe entrance oi? d1rt or other foreign matter into the can through such holes, thereby being especially adaptable for containing condensed or evaporated milk.

It Will also be seen that the device can be easily and conveniently attached to the can and When in position Will not be liable to be moved out of place, While at the same time it can readily and quickly be adjusted to both its punching and covering positions.

The device can be easily and cheaply manufactured, and Will occupy but little space on the can, While its shape will permit a number to be placed closely together for shipping or packing purposes, and When in position on the can it Will not be unsightly or in the Way of the handling of the can. or its contents.

Various modifications in the design and construction of my improved device may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its ad vantages.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A device of the class described, comprising clamping arms formed in the shape of a cross from a single piece of thin fiat spring metal for fitting over the top of the can, said arms having spring lugs formed at their outer ends for clamping against the side Wall of the can, With one of said arms being provided With guiding openings through the same for the insertion of an instrument for punching holes in said can top and the other arm being adapted to cover said holes upon the turning of said arms upon the can.

In testimony whereof, I, the said WIL- LARD P. MONTGOMERY, have hereunto set my hand.

WILLARD P. MONTGOMERY.

Witnesses:

J. M. GEOGHEGAN, J. N. (3001112. 

